Odigo (www.odigo.com) first made a splash in the instant message (IM) world because of its interoperability with AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ and Yahoo Messenger. The version 3.0 beta we looked at adds numerous enhancements including private chat rooms, augmented content channels and advanced buddy lists.

After a short download, we had no problems installing the software. Don't let the cartoonish interface fool you; Odigo is a powerful instant messaging service. In addition to typical IM functions such as sending IMs and files , you can connect to other users by browsing the same Web pages they do. For example, we pulled up the Yahoo home page and were able to see other Odigo users who were on that page, as well as read notes from users who had already visited the site. This feature and Odigo's great search capability make connecting with like-minded users easy.

In this release, Odigo has beefed up its content channels. The channels display information in a small window that extends out of the Odigo application. The channels are interesting, but seem somewhat superfluous for an application primarily used for communication. Odigo's purpose is most keenly reflected in the improvements to the buddy-list features. You can now snap your buddy list off of the main Odigo interface and stick it anywhere on your screen. The new version allows you to minimize the main application window but keep your buddy list in view, offering a handy way to clear screen clutter.

This release has also added support for an array of plug-ins that provide capabilities such as e-mail notification, compatibility for the Neoplanet browser and what Odigo calls animated emotions. Our favorite plug-in, Mediaposter, lets you send audio or video messages to your buddies on Odigo. We had no problem installing Mediaposter; which detected our Intel camera and microphone without a hitch. Sending a video message just required that we click on our recipient's icon then select the video message option from the plug-in menu.

Version 3.0 of Odigo's software adds the ability to set up your own private Odigo chat room. Only users you invite can enter. Also new in this release is portable ID, a function similar to one in Yahoo Messenger. Your details and buddy list will be saved to the Odigo server so you can use them from any computer that has Odigo installed, unlike programs like ICQ that keep such information stored locally. Odigo's portable ID is incredibly convenient for the mobile user who needs to stay in touch but may use different computers at several locations.

Odigo Inc. continues to push the edge when it comes to IM innovation. Even if you're happy with your current instant messaging service, you might find yourself tempted to switch to Odigo after taking this new release for a test drive.

About the Author

Jim manages the PC Magazine and ExtremeTech forums, and is responsible for building community in the forums on both sites. He started managing PC Mag's forum on ZiffNet on CompuServe many years ago. He then transferred the staff and expertise to the Web. He left ZDNet when it moved to San Francisco and came back to Ziff after the split from ZDNet, ... See Full Bio

Odigo gets serious about messag...

Odigo gets serious about messaging

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